Hisbah foils human trafficking attempt of 4 women from Kano to Saudi Arabia

The Kano State Hisbah Board says it has foiled a planned human trafficking operation involving four women who were to be transported from Kano to Lagos, Benin Republic, Togo, and then to Ghana before being smuggled to Saudi Arabia.

The Deputy Commander-General of Hisbah, Dr Mujahideen Aminudeen, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday.

He explained that the women were lured into believing they would secure visas and travel documents in Ghana before being taken to Saudi Arabia for job opportunities.

According to him, Hisbah operatives intercepted the syndicate on Sunday along Zaria Road in Kano.

SolaceBase reports that the alleged leader of the trafficking ring, identified as Bashir Sani Ibrahim, was apprehended by a Hisbah officer, Muhammadul Bashir.

Those targeted for trafficking were identified as Harira Muhammad, 30, from Jigawa State; Sailuba Ibrahim, 30, from Kano; Rakiya Umar, 30, also from Kano; and Hadiza Muhammad, 35, from Yobe State.

Dr Aminudeen revealed that each victim paid the sum of N2 million to the traffickers, with the agreement to complete the payment of another N1.5 million once their visas were processed.

“This meant each of them was expected to pay a total of N3.5 million,” he further stated.

Read Also: MAKIA: Drug kingpin, 5 others in NDLEA custody over arrest of 3 Nigerians in Saudi Arabia

He added that, “This is what we have always been warning people about. You agree to travel without knowing where you are going. People are deceived, and their hard-earned money is taken away from them.

“When they reach those countries, some are forced into prostitution, some are used for drug trafficking without their knowledge, and some end up in inhumane conditions.”

He advised Nigerians to reconsider such dangerous ventures, stressing that the money they risk losing could be better invested in business opportunities at home.

“If you have two million naira, that is enough to start a decent business here. Even with N3.5 million, you can establish yourself in any legitimate trade. But people allow themselves to be deceived, only to end up in regret,” he added.

The Deputy Commander-General further expressed gratitude that the attempt was foiled, noting that the victims might have been lost without a trace had they succeeded in leaving the country. “Alhamdulillah, the attempt was stopped.

“We have collected their details, including passports, and handed them over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP). We will continue to monitor the case until it is concluded,” he said.